How to troubleshoot PSC internet performance problems

Before you begin troubleshooting the speed of your PSC internet connection, we suggest that you perform a PSC Broadband Speed Test to benchmark your current internet speed.

It is also a good idea confirm the guaranteed minimum download speed that you on your broadband package from PSC.

You can get this information by checking a PSC broadband bill, your PSC contract or by contacting PSC.

Probable causes of PSC’s slow internet performance

Is it the PSC internet connection that is slow or is it your device (PC/laptop/phone)?

You need to consider the number of apps are currently running on your device.

The speed problem may be due to over-utilisation of your device’s resources i.e RAM/CPU and not a problem with PSC’s broadband connection.

If you are on a computer then you can use the task manager to see your CPU and Memory usage.

On other device, you could try restarting the device which hopefully should kill all applications that may have been using up your systems resources.

Run the PSC Speedtest on your computer and your mobile to check how the speedtest results compare between the two devices.

This should hopefully give you some information to help determine whether the problem is with your PC/Smartphone or the PSC broadband connection.

• What does the PSC download and upload speed mean?
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• 5 methods to speed up your PSC Internet performance
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Is the Wi-Fi network the cause of the slowness?

The root cause of the performance problem could be your internal Wifi network and not the PSC broadband internet connection.

You could rule out the Wifi network by connecting your PC directly into the PSC broadband router using a network cable and run the PSC Speed test again.

If the speed checker result improves when you’re connected via a network cable, this indicates that the issue could be with the Wifi.

A few other things to investigate:

• Are the WiFi channels that you’re using for your wireless network network (SSID) overlapping with your neighbors?
• Is your Wi-Fi network signal from the internet router obstructed?
• Does your performance get better when you’re standing directly infront of the PSC wireless router?

Exactly who’s connected to my wireless network?

Have you checked that your Wi-Fi network password has not been shared? Do you have an open wireless network? How secure is your Wifi network password? It could be time to update it.

Others could be on your wireless network and using up all the PSC bandwidth by downloading, uploading or even streaming music or video on your PSC broadband connection! Worse than that, they may be conducting illegal activities on your PSC broadband connection.

There are 3 applications to use to scan your Wifi network to check who is connected:

• Windows users can use Wireless network watcher
• IOS users can use whoFi (who is on my Wifi)
• Wireless troubleshooting tool WiFi Analyzer

The above apps analyse your Wi-Fi network and show you a list of the connected devices.

• How to check who is on your PSC wireless network

Do I need a Wifi booster for my PSC broadband?

You may discover that you have Wi-Fi black spots at your property, a Wi-Fi network extender aka a Wifi Booster may be the best fix to increase your Wi-Fi signal to cover any black spots.

• Cheapest Wifi Signal Extenders

The Wifi booster simply picks up the existing wireless network signal as it is starting to become weaker and re-transmits the Wi-Fi network signal to increase it’s reach.

Place the wireless extender where your Wifi network signal from your PSC broadband router is becoming weaker.

Place it approximately where your wireless signal is dropping down to less than 2 signal bars. Walk around your house with a tablet to determine where this is.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=hbqkVwQwqQc

When was the last time you upgraded the PSC broadband router?

The PSC and broadband infrastructure, in general, are constantly updated to provide new features and improve performance as technology evolves.  Always ensure that your PSC broadband internet router is running the most up-to-date software.

Most PSC internet routers will allow you to carry out the software update by logging on the PSC broadband router and simply clicking on a button to do the upgrade.

If you cannot do this, contact PSC and they will be able to perform the upgrade for you or alternatively, guide you through performing the upgrade yourself.

As well as upgrading the software, if you have had the same router for a long period, it’s worth talking to PSC to request for a router upgrade.

Is the issue outside your property (at the exchange)?

This is probably the most likely reason for PSC broadband performance issues in your area and it’s more common for broadband connections that are delivered through copper phone lines.

If you’re not sure if this is applicable to you, you should contact PSC who will be able to carry out the appropriate line checks to check if there is a problem on the PSC broadband line.

Is the issue due to PSC broadband congestion?

If you are finding that the PSC internet connection speed in your area is slows down during certain times e.g over weekends or evenings, then it may be due to congestion during peak times.

• What’s Broadband Contention Ratio and does PSC have contention?

You should speak to PSC to find out your guaranteed speed.

Find Best Alternatives to PSC Broadband

 

Test your PSC broadband connection

After the issue has been fixed either by yourself or PSC, retest the internet connection using  at least 2 independent Speedtests to ensure the fault is resolved:

• • How to the ookla internet broadband speed test to test your PSC connection
  • Test your PSC broadband speed using Ookla Offical Speed Test
  • Test your PSC broadbandspeed using fast.com speed test
  • Check My Broadband Speed Checker PSC internet speed checker
  • • 0845UK Broadband Speedtest and troubleshooting